JOEL HARRISON FREE COUNTRY

This month, the Bimhuis program contains nothing less than three American ‘rising stars’. Besides The Bad Plus and Lizz Wright (both performing later this month), guitarist/singer Joel Harrison also released a CD that was applauded by the international music-press. ‘Free Country’ features highly creative, unusual jazz renditions of American songs from the Appalachian/Country tradition. It has both stunning, soulful vocals (guest vocalist on the CD is Norah Jones!) and wildly creative improvisation. In Harrisons’ own words; ‘Each song is a story, retold through the lens of my composing, arranging and the enormous jazz improvisational skill of the players.’